How to Rig a Catalina Capri 16.5 Sailboat

In the summer of 2020, I bought a sailboat, but it did not come with instructions on rigging it, and the person I bought it from was not available. When I looked on the internet, I only found general descriptions of rigging a sailboat. After days of research and much trial and error, I figured out how to rig the boat. This Instructables article will go over how I have taught myself how to rig my boat, from pulling up to sail off.

Catalina Capri 16.5:

https://www.catalinayachts.com/sport-series/16-5/

Sailboat parts:

https://www.discoverboating.ca/boating/sailing/par...

Note:

• Allow yourself 30 minutes to an hour to rig up the sailboat

Safety warning: 2 people preferred to complete the rigging setup.

• Catalina Capri 16.5
• Included lines/sheets

Once a place to sail is found and access to the water is granted, you can start following these steps.

1. Pull the boat close to the slipway (boat launch) but not in the way of anyone who might need to launch a vessel while the boat is being set up.
2. Uncover the boat, set out the lines you will be using, and put the boom and forestay/jib on the other side of the vessel, so everything is organized and ready for rigging.

When stored, the mast is rotated 180 degrees so that the track the mainsail runs through is not bent out of shape.

1. Rotate the mast in place such that the shrouding (metal wires) is not crossing over the top or bottom of the mast, the spreaders are in an upside-down V position, and the mainsail track is facing downward.
2. Slide the mast toward the stern (rear) of the boat such that the hole in the mast lines up with the slots in front of the cockpit. The mast will extend past the stern of the boat and hinge upward, so have something to prop the end up or have someone hold it in position.
3. Feed the mast pin through the guides and mast and loosely tighten the wingnut by hand so the mast can rotate freely. Once the pin is in, support is not required on the extended portion of the mast.

The lines attached are used for keeping the mast up and holding the mast in place.

1. Attach the Jib/Forestay (front sail and bow mast attachment in one) to the metal attachment on the top side of the mast using the pin that is stored with the Jib/Forestay.
2. Feed the Jib Line (thin rope) through the fixture at the bow (front) as shown. Then through the first rung on the foredeck of the boat. Followed by the second rung and ratchet-cleat on the foredeck closer to the cockpit.

The centerboard is what keeps the boat heading in smoother lines and helps the boat from tipping over. Without attaching this line, the centerboard may fall out of the slot and get caught and break on the trailer or the ground.

1. Feed the centerboard line, so the stop-knot is on the centerboard rung
2. Then run the line through the two pulleys and down to the ratchet-cleat and pull tight; this will keep the centerboard from falling when unloading the boat.

The forestay keeps the mast from falling onto the cockpit while sailing. This step requires more than one person to perform due to the tension needed to keep the mast vertical under high wind conditions, but one of the most necessary for a safe voyage.

1. Start with one person at the top of the mast and the other holding the end of the forestay.
2. The person at the end of the mast starts pushing the mast upward toward the vertical position while the person with the end of the forestay guides the mast forward.
3. Once the mast is in the upward position, tighten the bolt at the base of the mast by hand as tight as it will go.
4. Have one person pull the forestay toward the forestay fixture at the front of the boat, lining up the hole on the forestay with the holes on the jib fixture. While the other is ready with the pin to pin the fixture and forestay together.

The boom allows for control over the mainsail, changing the position to catch the wind differently to gain or lose speed.

1. Bring the boom onto the boat
2. Undo the pin that is stored on the boom
3. Line up the holes on the boom and the holes on the mast
4. Put the pin through and up the pin-ring in (ring missing in the picture)
5. Attach the topping lift to the end of the boom through one of the gaps in the pulleys
6. Pull the topping lift line so that the boom is horizontal and tie it off on one of the cleats located on the mast

The boom vang keeps the boom from flying up and down when the wind fills the mainsail.

1. Locate the boom vang rung on the boom; it is located about 2 feet from the mast on the bottom of the boom.
2. Hook the boom vang onto the rung
3. With the vang loosened, bring the metal block to the boom vang rung on the mast with the loose end of the rope pointed downward.
4. Unscrew the hand screw to take off the u-fixture.
5. Feed the u-fixture through the boom vang rung on the mast and screw the hand screw back in so that the block is attached to the mast
6. Pull the loose rope out, then down to lock the boom in the horizontal position.

The boom guide keeps the boom from swinging too far from the cockpit and tipping the boat.

1. Feed the boom guide-line through the bottom of the hole on one side of the stern
2. Feed the line through the open pully on the end of the boom
3. Feed the line through the top of the hole on the other side and pull taught to allow space for tying the knot
4. Tie a stop knot (figure 8 knot) as shown
5. The boom guide-line should be loose but should not become undone if tugged on

The jib is used for low wind situations when you need more speed and coming into port.

1. Uncover the jib fully
2. Separate the jib sheets (ropes) coming from the jib to their respective sides of the boat
3. Run the jib sheets to the jib ratchet cleats and clamp them so that they have slight tension in them

The mainsail is the main source of propulsion for the boat

1. Uncover the boom
2. Fit the main tack peg (black bar) into the mainsail slot opening
3. Attach the main halyard (the white rope that pulls up the mainsail) to the head tack (plastic at the top of the mainsail)
4. Fit the mainsail luff line (rope inside the sail) into the mainsail slot opening
5. Run the mainsail up 1-2 feet so that the sail can be hoisted while sailing when it is time

Now that the boat is rigged up, the boat can be lowered into the water. Once in the water, attach the rudder via the pegs on the back. The boat is now ready to sail!